Dutch Crohn and colitis patients face deadly delays as surgery wait times hit 22 weeks
Patients suffering from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in the Netherlands are reportedly facing dangerously long surgical wait times—far exceeding the medically accepted limit of seven weeks—according to a new study led by the Maag-Darm-Lever-fonds (MDL-fonds), the Dutch Digestive Diseases Foundation, in collaboration with the UMCG in Groningen and the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health.
In many cases, patients with these chronic intestinal diseases are waiting up to 22 weeks for surgery, a delay that experts warn can have life-threatening consequences. “Inflammation in the intestines can be severe and lead to perforations or blockages. In the worst cases, you can die if not treated quickly enough,” MDL-fonds director Mariël Croon told RTV Noord. She described the situation as “irresponsible.”
The study estimates that these prolonged wait times cost Dutch society 12 million euros annually. The losses stem not only from higher healthcare expenses but also from patients being too sick to work, extended sick leave, and broader social disengagement. According to the MDL-fonds, approximately 100,000 people in the Netherlands suffer from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis—two conditions that share significant similarities and often lead to intense, painful flare-ups.
Croon criticized the failure to meet the so-called treeknorm—a standard established by Dutch healthcare providers and insurers to define acceptable wait times. “Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases should not have to wait more than seven weeks. But in practice, we’re seeing delays that triple that time,” she told RTV Noord. Croon emphasized that accurate tracking of patient complaints, symptoms, and illness duration is essential to maintain this standard. “That registration doesn’t exist right now, and that’s strange,” she said, though she acknowledged she doesn’t know why the system is lacking.
Part of the problem allegedly lies in broader staffing shortages across the Dutch healthcare system, Croon said. She noted that surgeries for these diseases are often complex and require extended hospital stays, including time in intensive care units when complications arise. These cases can strain hospital resources, especially if patients need to be readmitted. “But that should not affect the level of care,” she said. “These patients are just as entitled to good healthcare as anyone else.”
The study further revealed that surgery is eventually required in more than half of Crohn’s disease cases and around 15 percent of ulcerative colitis cases. Since these conditions are chronic and incurable, Croon argued that timely treatment is critical. “We’re not talking about minor issues. The stakes are extremely high,” she added.
